Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Home For You Chat My Shows Register/Login Games Grosses

Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

New Post Search Report Abuse Rules

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

#1

Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:25am

Allison Janney Boards Hairspray
Source: Variety August 29, 2006


Former "The West Wing" star Allison Janney has joined the cast of the New Line musical Hairspray and made a deal to develop a sitcom at CBS.

Janney, who won four Emmys for her role as White House chief of staff C.J. Gregg, will start rehearsals on the Adam Shankman-directed Hairspray right away. She'll play Prudy Pingleton, the overbearing mother of Penny (Amanda Bynes) who believes that dancing and having fun is sinful.

She joins John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Bynes, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Zac Efron and Nikki Blonsky. Production on the Leslie Dixon-scripted film begins in September for a summer 2007 release. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron produce.

On the series front, Janney made her deal with CBS for a sitcom vehicle that will aim for a fall 2007 slot
#2

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:42am

Yet again, brilliant casting. These guys haven't made one false step so far (except for not using Harvey but let's face it, Travolta will probably excel...)
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
#3

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:47am

I read this wrong and thought they meant Penny and I was like, "Huh I thought they cast her already?"

*goes to IMDB*
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#6

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 3:20am

YES, YES, YES.

I'm starting to accept this movie for what it is. Barring Zac Efron, it's not going to be so bad!
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
#7

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 3:39am

They've done a bang up job casting so far. I'm getting optomistic.
"I seem to have wandered into the BRAIN load-out thread... "
-best12bars

"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290

#13

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 10:32am

I was going to give this movie a pass, but with Allison Janney I may have to rethink about it.
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien
#14

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 10:56am

Same with me mominator. I didn't really care about the movie before, but hearing this news this morning got me REALLY excited! AJ rules.
"Some of us have it worse, you know, Dana. Some of us are dating lesbian men. Okay? C'mon."
#16

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:15am

I can hear the bells.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
#17

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:35am

Something just occured to me, Allison Janney was cast as Prudy Pingleton, does this mean that we can lookm forward to more wonderful casting moves for the other parts the "authority figure" plays? I vote Kathy Griffin for the prison matron!
#18

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:40am

LOVE HER, glad shes in it.



I want KG in it too.


Hairspray is opening in a heavy movie month. I hope they worked out some sort of advertising with the "So You Think You Can Dance" people.
"Zac is sweet as can be. He's very much just a sweet kid from California who happens to have a face that looks like it was drawn by Michelangelo, (if Michelangelo did anime)."
-Adam Shankman.

"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"

"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
#21

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 12:27pm

I would LOVE to see Lea Delaria sing 'Big Doll House'. My only concern with the announced cast is Latifah; I am a fan of hers, but I'm not sure she's right for Motormouth. She's too young, and I don't know that her voice is big enough for 'I Know Where I've Been'.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson
#22

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 12:48pm

I don't think Big Doll House is in the movie anymore.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
#23

re: Allison Janney to play Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Movie

Posted: 8/29/06 at 1:22pm

I've been a huge Janney fan ever since I saw her Kate in Taming of the Shrew in Central Park a few seasons back. Her work on The West Wing is some of the finest acting I've ever seen on screen. I am thrilled that she continues to work and get great gigs.
You GO, Allison!
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!" Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!

← Back to Message Board

BroadwayWorld TV

View all Videos

Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $95
More Hot Shows Discounts
Recommended For You